As Gore Mends Fences, Democrats Take Notice

February 3, 2002|By Richard L. Berke, New York Times

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Al Gore, who likes to remind audiences that he "used to be the next president of the United States," re-emerged Saturday in his home state to take what is a vital step if he decides to try for a rematch: convincing Tennesseans that he is still a viable candidate.

Democrats around the country are keeping a watchful eye on Gore -- and are taking note of his decision to speak Saturday night at a dinner of the Tennessee Democratic Party. That is because if Gore decides to run in 2004, his candidacy could not be dismissed. After all, he won the popular vote in 2000, and he is far better known than the other Democrats with designs on the White House.

Yet the challenges for Gore extend far beyond making amends in Tennessee, which he lost to George W. Bush by a humiliating 4 percentage points. Although he almost became president and although his stalwart supporters in 2000 credit Gore with delivering a gracious concession, many are eager for a fresh candidate. Close race or not, many Democrats argue that Gore should have swamped Bush.

Gore has told friends that he has truly not decided about 2004. But his appearance to mend fences in his home state is the most telling sign that Gore wants, at least, to keep his options open.

Gore still has supporters who argue that he is far more popular among voters outside Washington than inside the Beltway.

"In the base of the party, there's still a great deal of support for Al Gore, and in Washington, there isn't," said Mitchell Berger, a top fund-raiser for Gore in 2000 who said he would back Gore again.

Still, despite all his advantages, even Gore's advisers agree that he would have a more arduous climb to the nomination than when he was vice president and had the resources of the White House and President Clinton at his disposal.